Flooring-end matcher



'y lo w. s. SHERMAN FLOORING END MATCHER Filled May 12. 1921 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 Il I HMI. l 0 @Uni n .QW O

o@ mmm N May l0, 19227.

w. s; SHEHMAN FLooRING END MATCHER Filed May 12. 1921 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 M lo 1927. w. s. SHERMAN FLQORING END MATCHER Filed May 12. 1921 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 l 9 May lo 1927 w. s. SHERMAN 628 335 FLOORING END MATCHER Filed May 12. 1921 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 Maf/@52m wm Muy l0, 1927.

W. S. SHERMAN FLOORING END MATCHER FiledvMay' 12. 1921 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 w.s. SHERMAN I FLOORING END MATCHER Filed May 12. 1921 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 Patented May 10, 19237. p' l UNiTEn! j* Slieiss regatas Px'sarorrics.

WILLIS s. SHERMAN, erv MiNNiiroLIs, MINNESOTA; t

- FLOORING-END MATCHER.

. Application iiieajiaay 12,1921. serial ne'. 468,826.

' The well known v,purpose of machines of the above type is to cut' gioovesiin yor tongues `j on'tlie ends of matched flooring. kIn practice,'it hasbeen found that the cutting of these grooves and tonguesin theends of eration than the cuttingof suchy grooves and tongues on the longitudinal edges thereof, and thata machineyto successfully perform the purposes of 'this inventiom must perform -F or instance, the oorfing mustl first be accurately 'squared up tothe line vof feed, toy

lflooringbe kept inzits squared-up position" andsecurely held against endivise drifting lmm'iements. Then:, When' the vgroove or tonguel has been-properly cutin the end ofV the flooring, it should be properly held and dropped onto an 4endless discharge beltv orA conveyor without lbreaking of any of the delicate edges Vof "the flooring.A

' For properly-guiding and head block or plate and, substantially lparallel therewith, (3o-operating parallel under- -V llying lznifeedged guide rails, which head block andguide rails constitute the feedpas'- sage, te` said saw and end cutter. v e

The floor-ing is Vpreferably first placed by hand on a feed table and byhand directed against a socalled starting tr-iggen which, by such cont-act, automatically trips lthe mafie chine into'actionand causes the fio'oring thus .pressed to be engaged by cra-operating rakeacting feed bars yhaving primary and secondary hooks arranged to square up' the. fiooring by forcing the same against a yielding feed- 4F resisting device. This feed-resisting device is a hydraulic device of novel construction that receives its hydraulic pressure from a hydraulic pumpl preferably of the rotary type. The hydraulic feed-resisting device is arranged to offer maximum' resistance against the initial impact or rpressure kand then to gradually break-down or give away under continued press'ui'eand movement of the flooring under the action of thef feed bars.

match flooringv is a much more difficult opy ylustrated in the accompanying drawings,

many functions andmeet many conditions. 5

directing the flooring to` thesavv and cutter, I provide Iaonv the lineG-G of Figx, some parts being therefor g` vmately onrthe line 9 addition to the features above generally indicated, the A'invention' includes automatic "'tripping devices, preferably of electromagnetic character, which Will automatically stop the feed mechanism 'of thermachine when anything goes wrong ivithufthe driving mechanism orin'th'e niannerjof pressing the lfiooring to the saw yand end cutter or'in the delivery of the iinishedfioo'ring. Y

il; commercial formof the machine is il- 65 wherein like characters indicate like parts throughout the Severalvievvs. i

4. Referringtofthe drawingsf` `Fig `l is a sideelevation of the Vcomplete machine7 some parts being sectioned;

Fig- 2 is-a frontend elevation of the ma- V chine. Withsome'parts broken away and with' the Vparts. shoivn on a larger scale than in Fig.` f 1 7a Fig. 3 is a left-side elevation of a portion 1 ofthe inacl'iind-soine parts being broken @Vaya Y f' A Figa 4 is a perspective showing the head of thev secondary clutch; d

Fig. 5 is an enlarged viewl chiefly in section outhe line 5-5 of Fig.y With'some partsrin fullg t F ig; 6 is a detail insection approximately .operating end of the driving Acounter-shaft;

lFi S. is Va planview showing the feed bars A and certain of the operating connections 9o is a vertical section taken approxil 9 ofFig. 2,'.soine parts being broken aivay and some being in full;

Fig. l()V is a horizontal section approximately yon the line.1()-1O of Fig. 9; e

Fig. 1l is an-elevationof therotary hydraulic pump With the face plate thereof rremoved and some parts being in section;

Fig. ,12 is a section taken-approximately on the line 1,2-12 of Fig. l;

Figql?) is a .detail in elevation showing one of the guide pulleysvfor the dischargeV belt or conveyor; and

Fig. 14 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the Wiring of the several electromagnetic safety devices applied to the machine.

` The framework. l5 of the machine isa heavy cast structure;r which supports the various partsof the mechanism, as 'will here im 'FigsA 1, l3 and 51),'Which rocker arm, a'ft its lower e1id5'is secured to' larocksha'ft 611 journaled in bearings on the main' frame and 'provided `One f end with short vclutch-avctuatingj Varm 165, the function et 'which latter will presently be noted.l

This roc'ker arm '63 is formed withalv` long ,slot-er guideway in Which Works a sliding block G6 'that vis jeurnaled on thecrank 07 l() 'the :main l'trame and -provid'ed Wit-h a spur pi-nien 75.7 The spur pinie'n 75 meshes with fau'splu'r lgear 76, the `sleeve-like hub 'avot :which 1s journalled ina tubular housing lf7 fsecured 'on the fmain frame and project-ingVV horizontally therefrom, as best shown 'in iFi'z 5 Y Y "Touholdsaid gear against vaxial movements, its sleeve-hkehub -763- is formed withaii annularch'annel 1n Vwhich is seated *a be-ringibx or collar 78 that is rigidly se- Rotatablyf:jcuriialed in the hub 76d and l"in a sleeve `79 'thatisaXia'll-y alignedtherewith and journaled 'in'V the vopposite side of themin'trame, is a countersha-ftSO,` to the outer fend 'of which is rigidly secured a notch-ed 'clutch hub or element 81,* (see o'the inner endiof the rotary sleeve' is secured an elliptical V@s211182 Athat meshes with lan elliptical gear 83 that issecured t0 the crank shaft-68, which crank-- shaft, it 'Will be remembered, has a'crank thatop'erates'the rocker armGB. Therotarysleeve '79 basan annulargroovein which is seated a, bearing sleeve 84 that isV rig-idly secured 'to the 'side plates ot the main frame by machine :s'f'zrnysy or otherwise.v Here it may be Vsta-ted thatt-he 'two bearing cllars78- and'St are preferablydiagrammatically split structures 'adapting them to be'readily applied .in the seats formed therefor, respective-ly, vin

thebearinglsleeyes 76aand 79. The numeral 85 indicates a clutch dog that cfa-operates with the teeth of .the clutch memberSl and tudinal groove orme'din the'rotary sleeveV is arranged to slideflike a key in a longi- 'ta This sliding aeg este s @am Shoulderl815 'that is adapted ltoY beengaged bythe beveled segmental edge of Va clutch-releasing headf87 carried by Vone end ot a lever 88 that is interm'ediately pivotedon ja'iiXed 'bearing'sleeve`68a, in which one end et Ythe Ashaft 68 is journaled.

The beveled segmental vedge ol the clutchreleasingv head 87 is `adapted* to 'engage the' shoulder 86 0i the clutch dog 85 threugh an annular 'channel formed between ringsr '79 and 791 that are "shrunk'ontolthe onter'por- 4tion of 'the sleeve 79 and are lspaced axially v thereof. The clutch dog" 85 is yieldingly ifo-reed into engagement with the teeth iofV the upper end oft "ai'ork-'QO to which a rodv 91is adiustably'secured by nut and threaded engagement. The fmemb'er 90 yis made of vyoke form so Vtha'tit will clear the .belt 51. 'The lower end of the rod91 works freely through the perforated 'end oft the vclutchoperating arm 165, (see Figs. 3 and 5),that vis secured Ito one end of the rocker arm shaft 1164. Surrounding the rod 91, one' above and one below the armv'GA-, and vcompressed IbetWeen said arm Yand '-nu'ts on said rod, lare coiled springs 91. These springs have fa peculiar action, Which irillwbe hereinafter described. i f j rihe numeral 95 indicates fa vstop farm rigidiyse'cured te the 'iurameircrkcf the machine-and serving to limit the `upward moveff-nient ofthe clutch-releasing.head 87. Yrhe numeril 9G indicates-a bell :crank pivoted onfa stud 97 'projected from 'the VframeWork. Tihe 'leiter 'arm et this' bell crank 'has an 'oil'set shoulder 598 that is adapted lto :engage the tree end ofthe clutch-releasing head S7 "and held" fthe. samepr'essed down in its clutch-'releasing position at certain times hereinafter noted. Acoiled spring 99, attached-'to .the Vupp'e'rarm'et the bell crank '95'an'd t'o an lanchoring arm 100, tendsr to torce the vbell crank Zinto its operative position. "The anchoringarni 100,V as shown, is rigidly but adjustably secured tothe ir'ameirork' byk r-a machine scren7 101, (see (see Figs. 1 'and 3), is connected to a short y #arm 107, `which, in turn, is connectedtoand oscillatesiwith the 'trigger arm BOfheref o'iore described. Said Ielements 30, 107,l 106, 1105,

V'1011,103, 102 and constitute Yan automatic tripping mechanism in' which said'element '30 isfthe trigger and the' element is the "lock for the mainor primary driving clutch 81185. rhemanner in which this main clutch is operated Will appear in the description of the operation to be 'given later on.

.For connecting the drivingsleeve .76a to thelsliait 80,51 provide a so'-called secondary `drifting clutch, the preferred construction VVof which is illustrated in Figs. e, 5 and 6, and which includes spring-pressed plungerlike clutch .dogs108 mounted -in the large end ci" th'esleete .76 and vadapted tov engage seatsi'109iormed in an outstanding annular liange 110 oii'the shaftO. Arranged to rWork also in the seats 109"=are dog-displacingllugs`111 secured to a disk .112. The dislf.

lll

112 roteleu with the slultt 80 :md is pro ereuk 1110, und through relug 1112 on the vided with :l tubular stein 113B which, :lo lllcurn. is: elidnllly mounted ou o` reduced end ot' seid slul'tt Si) und is rototirely mounted. in u nou-rotary pieton houd 11.11. rllle piston heed 111 ie elidzihly mounted in :i cylin- `der 1115. which. :u: show lu is formed :is :l

port ot' the cylindrical Curling; T7 holted to `the i'rolneworl: ol.2 the lnflehine. Preferably. :l tl'lrust-eeting hull-healing 112- il; placed between the oud oi' the tuhuler spindle 113 ivlud the pieton heed 111.

, llolted or otherwise rigidlyv seeureil lo the outer end olt the easing TT is u valve heueing 11S vtorilled with :l Vertiezll ejrliudrieul :coiled springl 1125, seated iu the plug' 192.

yieldiugrl'if presses the vulve 120 downward.

The valve 120 cooperates with ports 126, 12T und 128 in the vulve housing 118. The port 126 is connected to the delivery end ot' u pressure pipe 129, the port 127 opens into the cylinder 115. und the port 12d is eonueeted to u discharge pipe 130. The nuulerul '1131 indicates u lort that always couneets the diseluirge pipe 130 with the lower portion ot' the piston seat 119, and through un :miel pussogre in the valve, with the upper end oi" eeid cylinder.

The pipes 129 :lud 130 leed. reepeetively, from und to :l rotary hydraulic pump, best shown in Figs. 1, l und 11. This pump, :is shown, eoillprises iui'erl'neshinp; gezlrs 132, one ot which is eeeured to the extended end o t' the rlullft .71. lllis lordi-onlie pullip operutes ou :i Well llnolru plun und the gears 1 13:1 :ire luouuted iu u easing 133 that is torlued with o. ilrersure @houiller 131 und :l eurtloll or reeelvillg elullllher 135. u'llieh lottelutllrougrll il. pori lltulslueollstzlnteoulluuuieiltiou u'ilh :ul oil eupply elululher loi forll'led ill the pulllp euluui; lll. 'lllle ehuulller 13T ..llou'n :ll-l provided with :l eurer 13d. u'llirll need uot he :lud iilrelerzllllulf is uo' oiiutigl'ht. The ezisiup' .l-'ltlpful uhowu. if.; uuuile iu tiro ports. Y

'the pressure ehzlulher itl-lo'l` the puulp ie udupted to deliver eurpluri oil hoek illlo the oil suppl)1 ehuulher 123i'. throiulljh :i port 131; ihzlt is uorilllllljlr elosed h r :l rulve 31) that :lets :is o yielding uhutuleilt or resistent against eut-h delivery et oil. This vulve 131), als shown. is Carried hy the lower ernl ot e hell Crunk 110 that ie pirotelljy1 mounted Within the oil ehzullber 121i. Tile numeral 111 indieetes un adjusting rod that is passed interior ol the easing 18S-l. A coiled spring 113 ie interposed between the head ot the upper erm ol the hell crunk 140 und the head ol the lower end of: the ndjusting rod 1111. 'lhe threaded upper oud o't the rod 141 is provided with :l tension adjusting uut 144.

lt muy now he noted that the pressure pipe '121) leeds troni the pressure chamber 12'11- ol the, pump and tlult the (ilieeluirge or returl'l pipe 130 leeds to the sue-tion cheminer 123i oi seid pulllp.

The :lutoiilrltie llydrilulie -Feed-resistillgg deriee, ol wllieh the erin Si forms u. port, uill non lle defierihed. `Attention u'ill 110W he direi-ted portieulzlrly to ll 1, il und 9.

lli* melius oli' laterally spzieed links 145, the erul El is eouiieeted to the lower end of :l piston 141e tl et Works in a eylinder 147. This ejy'lilider 117', .f e shown, is east integral ni th u hreel-:et 141-8. u'hioh, hy n nutequipped stud 149 oud u slot 150, is rigidly eonueiited to the vertically adjustable table hloeli 19, to which, it `u'ill he remembered, the huile-edged hors orxrnils 18am seeured. '.l`he mireille downward lllovement of the pistou 11i-G is limited byu stopplate 15()a :uljufituhly secured to the lower end of the eylinder 111i' hy uutequippedbolts 151. Athlehed to the upper endet the eylinderis ull oir ellzlillher 152 that is `in constant coinuluil' lotion with the upper end of said cylinder through en axial tube 153 shown es 'l'ornled with porte 151 sind 155. 1Said cylinder ie provided with laterally ol'l'set I1itzllze :lud discharge ports G and 157, respectively.

i1 pressure pipe158 leads :from the pressure @houiller 15:11 ofthe punjlp to" sold port 1110. und e return pipe ltlllezlds from seid diurluirge port 1.57 to the suction or receivirre,` elulinller 1215 ot eeid pulup. Suid pipes 158 oud 159 :ire provided :it their interinodiilte portions with lletl'ihle eouplingsltO, which pel-init rei-tieni adjustments otthe e'i'liuder 1li' :lud ruils 1S.

'lllle pistou 11G is tfoiil'led `with :in un1lulur groove or port 1111 that is .iii constant eolllululliezltiol'l `with `the upperelldole the ejrliuder through un :luiul pulssugi'e 113i, :lud rudiill. luuilluejee lt'li. eee hie'. t). The zletiou ol` thiu deriee will he riveli ill the deselipd lion oli' the operlitioll.`

.lul-@t fitter the groove or tongue hns heen eut iu the end ol the llooriugg,r strip, it is eop'uged hy :l eo'eulled suiflportiug hooli, the 'tuiletiou ot which is: to prevent the strip Afrom tending; to drolp he'tore itis eleilr ol the lolite edges (see iig. `This.supporting' hook ie in the l'orll'l of :i 1od`165. the

lower oud ot which is in the lforin ol ehool, `tor the purposes indicated.` l This rod slides through o hearing 166` pivoted to a brooke/t 16'? edjustehly lifted to tllelleud block 16.

f1 coiled spring 168, ou seid rod, compressed..

Een

CII

hooked end off saidiod in the Y ralve 120,v esthere shown,

between: thebearing. 16,6, andnuts .1,@59A said p rod,l yieldingly holds the hook ui its' raised position Vshown in Fig'. 1, While-a Weighted arm 170 yieldingly holds the receiving position shown in Fig. 1. i

For throiifing thefieed mechanism :ofthe machine automatieallyl ont of actio1i ,'\vhen- Attention isV now also particularly. lcalled to the,r diagram view, Eigt '14,.:wherein the electroinfagnet v173 isdshownas arranged to. be energized throughl ciijcnits controlled by three diilerent safetydevices.,A The safetyl device shownatthetopin Figle, but also Shown in Figs, y1l and 13, comprises ity-held circuit-closing lever- 174 pivoted to a grounded lug 175 and engageable with an insulated Contact 17.6, The lever 174 has a slice 177 that normallyiides on the belt 3,51, but which, shouldy said `belt break, will drop and allow the sentant-.leven 1.7% to engnge the contnct 176 and then' closev thecircnit tok the magnet H3 VthrOiigh aleadivire 17S.

r1`he tripping device shoivnnextto the top in 14 and also in Figs. i1J and 2, comprises a ,vabbling contactarm 179A that, nt tslower end, has npiwsitely PlQiGGl/ni lingers lOinsiilated froinsaid lever, rThese l Fingers :180 ride 0n the SIDOQlLUPDeF slgns ofthe feed hooi-:s 53(see. Figs. VVA1 and2,)

and the upper `end of the larinl' Works between insiilatedfguides ,181 andis therebyY heid against .oscillatory movements vlongitudinally oi the Vmachine bu tory ymovements transversely. of the inachi'ne. lWhen both of the feedhooks Orba-rs fare of the same altitiidehecontact 1.79 will remain out of Contact Withftwo .grounded contaets182, but when Veither one i ot the hooks is movedl l-iiglier ,than the other,

as will he the case if a flooring vstrip :should get into the oblique position shown by dotted'lines in 8,'then said ,Contact arm 1T 9 will engage .one .or the .other of said grounded .contacts 182.r and will thenv cause the electromagnet 173 to be energized through ale-ad Wire 18.3,A f l :li: thegtinished ooring strips should, for

air:

:through a' v-leac'lfxvire 187.

i'ree for vibra?` reason, `accuniulate on' the discharge Y.

belt 164e, as' would be the case if saidbelt should stop vice shown comprises a gravity-suspended contact arm 184 pivoted to the headblock running, 'then the tripping de-V `jiist above the electromagnet A173, in Fig. 1e' and also shown in Fig. l, Awill come into action.v 'i his tripping devicev nipping 15 at 185 and adapted, `when its depending y portion isl moved rearward, to engage a lined grounded contact' 186'and thenv cause the electromagnetY 173 to Operation.. I The operation of the machine abovefdescribed, somewhat follows:

es before Stated, the'fnnrins strips. if .nreon the feed table substantially at "right enel@ to, the line Ot 'eedend ein Pressed into Contact with the trigger SQ, as shown in Fiet 1-7 Attention is nene' felled tn llie'fe' that, nnnnnlly, .the bevelndisesmentel"edge' of theclntclnreleasing head of the lever 88 Will be pressed down andheldby the shoulder 98 ofthe bell crank 96; and! thefroclger arm 63 Will be in its" position shoi'vnfl in Fig. 3,'thereby throxvingthe armV 65 downbe energized" briefly summarized, is as wa'rdand compressing the lower spring 94,

Said lower spring 94 will, therefore, attliis timev be put under tensionto ,tliioiv the' @linnn-releasing head 9.7 beck te fsnlnfeh? releasing position shoivn in 3 Whe'ii-' ever the bell/'crank 96 is moved 'into its re-4 leasing position shown iii Fig.` 3j; and now vitwill be observedvthat, vwhen theflooring Strip is forced 'nennsf the trigger 30g Seid. bell crank 96 will 'be moved int@ Such Clutch" releasing rnfstnne Instantly nenn Helens@ of the lever 88, the lower spring 91 therefore acts to retract the head 97 and permit the spring 89, (see Fig. 5),to engage the clutch dog 85 With the clutch hub' S1, and

this immediately throws into action the rake` acting feed bars 53. Here, attention is called v to the fact that, under all normal conditions,

the dogs or plringers 108 are in engagement with theclu'toh flange 110 ofthe shaft-180, or,Y otherwise stat-ed, .the secondary clutch,

including the clutch elements 108 and 110,` `is normally active to transmitv motion, -so' that as soon as the primary clutch Sp1-85 is thrown into action, the hook-equipped feed bars 53 and the oscillatory arm 63 vyilllbe` thrown into action.

Under their fir-st movement, thehoohs 53?, ofv the tivo feed bars Will simultaneously engage theiirst presented llooringstrip y and, by orcinn' the saine against the upper.

end yof Athe Vleed-resisting Varm y31, Will`p'osi-- tively position siich strip at a right angle to the line of feed... Under initialiforivard inovemeiin'the iiooring striprivill beV forced against Y,theiipper ,end of the Vresistingarm Sp1k anch,immediately thereaftgrg wlllbel forced up the beveled end and onto the top knife edges of the guide rails 18. These knife edges are preferably set at a very slight conversion toward the under surface of Vthe head block 1G so that, as the flooring strips are forced over said knife edges, the latter will ont slight grooves in the bottom surfaee ol the flooring strip and will press the upper surface of said strip tightly against the head block. Thus, throughout their move* ments through the feed passage formed between the head plate and knife-edged guide rails, the flooring strips will be squared up `to the line of feed moven'rent and against endwise drifting movement. The cam sur faces 53d cause the feed bars to cani themselves into feeding engagement. with the strip that is in its first position at the left, and the cani surfaces 53 Cause said bars to oam themselves into feeding engage ment .with the strip that in its set-ond position further at the right, in Fig. 1. This is" considered an important novel feature.

As the flooring strip is fed over the upper end of the resistingr arm 31, said arm will be` swungforwar and its free end will finally move downward on a recedingare, so that said strip will pass over the same, but under the above noted movement, the following action takes plaee in the cylinder 147, (see Fig. 9). Normally, the full pressure from the rotary pump is exerted on the upper end of a piston 11G and in the air cl'ian'iber 152 so that, under initial upward movement, the piston 146 displaees the oil from the cylinder, partly by Aforcing oil into the air Chamber 152, but chiefly by foreing the oil back tlirough the port 1553 to the pump, where it finds its escape through the valve 139. Because of the inertia and frietional resistance of the oil in the supply conduit, the resistance olfered by the arm 31 will be greatest at the beginning of the feed movement, but almost instantly the valve 153 will move upward and completely open the port 156, thereby slightly redueing the pressure. This extreme or greatest pressure at the beginning of the movement of the arm Blis desirable because it insures positive positioning of the flooring strip at a right angle to the line of feed. before it has been fed onto the knife-edged guide railspand it is also desirable that this pressure be decreased when the flooring strip has been fed Well onto said guide rails, and that this pressure be substantially relieved or broken down before the flooring strip has pressed the free end of the arm 31 below the horizontal plane of the upper edges of the guide rails 18. so as to thereby prevent said arm from being held with much force against the lower edge and under fare of the flooring strip.

, The latter noted function or .n'essurere leasing action takes place when the piston 1116 is moved high enough to bring its an` out of registration with the port 157, the 'f full pump pressure will be exerted to return the piston 146 to its extreme lower position and arm 31 to its normal position. Attention is here called to the :facts that when pis ton 146 is elevated, valve 153 also will be ele rated, so that air Cushion ehamber 152 will then be in communication with both ports 15G and 157, through ports 15st, 162, and 163. This causes an equalization of pressures above and below valve 153 so that said valve Will lower to position shown in Fig. 9, under the action of gravity. Of course, the difference in pressure due to theditferenee in area of the above noted liassages 155 and llmay be aeeon'iplished in different Ways. The air cushion 152 is a desirable but not an essential feature, its function being simply to cushion initial shocks or st ains due to sudden movements of the piston. The valve 153 then closes and outs oil' supply of oil except through the port 155, thereby causing a slow downward movement of the piston 146.

The pressure that will be maintained on the piston 1116, while in its lowered position, may be varied by adjustments of the spring 143, `which holds the yielding abutment or choke valve 139, of the pump, normally in closed position.

Thetirst feed movement ofthe feed bars moves the `flooring strip to the positions shown in Fig. 1, past the sawf, which ents the flooring strip Where desired, and posi tions said strip just at the left of the grooving saw or end cutter 48. `Under the second reciprocation or feed movement, the hooks 53h, of the feed bars 53, engage this flooring strip and move the same past the end outter 48, which, as illustrated, is a san7 that cuts the groove in the end of the strip, but, in other instances, it might be a cutter for forminga tongue on the end of the strip. This second movement of the feed bars also carries the flooring strip oli fromthe sharp edges of the guide rails 18 and into engagement With the hooked lower end of the supporting rod 165, and the latter, as already stated, prevents the strip from `sagging until `it is clear oli' the knife edges of the guide rails.

It has already been stated that the pri-` mary eluteh S185 is a one.-,revolntion eluteh and the manner in which it is made 'to so act lllll 1 eas, s315- may ynvv bei'ioted, directing attention' ticularly toI Fig. 35 VhenV the oscillatory arm 6 3 .moves toward the left, in respect to Fig; 1 the arm moves upi'vard, therebyv compressingthe upper spring 94' andcausing the lever 88 to move in a directioiito positon the beveled cainacting flange 87 in the path or; movement of the notch 8G ofthe clutch dogv 85, so that said cam` flange will -eiigage the'notchlfof the` Yclutch dog V85 and i'tractthe ,latter outof engagement Wit-h the tootliclutch liublf81; and automatically stop the arm 6'3- ivlien it has again reached-its 4socalled normal condition shown in Figsl and Y' 3; As soon as the lever88 ivzlts'positined,as

devices, diagraininatic'allyillustrated in Fig; legivill energize the commonelectromagnet 173-to trip the machine out of action', has

already been generally described and the manner in WhichA said electromagnet, vrhen energized, Will move the valve 120 intov the Jositioii in Fie'. 5 tliereb cansino' hvdraulic t b 7 b u pressiire from thepump to release the seeondary "clutch, Willnoiv berur'th'er traced.

Obviously, when the valve'lQO is in the posi#4 tion shown in Fig. 5,`o`il `from the pressure side ol thepump ivill be admitted through the ports 126 and 12T`into` the cylinder 115, thereby forcing the piston V11e outward or toivard the left, causing thelugs 111 to completely lill the slots 109, displacing the clutch plunger 108 so that the latter Will then run freely over the adjacent face `oi:l the shaft flange 1x10 'and the flush' faces of said/lugs. This releases 4the secondary clutch and stops rotation 'or' the shaft 80 and partsfdriven theretroi'n, to Wit, the oscillatory arm G3, reed Ybars rand the primary clutch- SSL-81. Or course, 'as soon as the circuit to the vmagA net 173 is aO'ai'n opened by restoring the contact elements 'ot' the safetytlevice to normal condition, the valve 120 ivill be again moved downward by spring 125 and gravity1 there'- by closingr the port, inlet 126 vand connecting the 'cylinder to the "returnpipe 130 through the p'o'rt 131,-and this, or course,` permits the spring-pressed clutch pluiigers 108 rto again` Veng/Page with `the slots or seats 109, and thus,

again couple the shaft SO, to the constant running 'gear 7 6, leaving ythe; machine then again under controlof 'th'e primary clutch.

Attention may be l nrther'called to the tact that,'by adjusting the hook rod 165 vertically, it may be -setio'r proper actionon flooring strips of different thickness, While, bypivotally adj Listing` the bracket 167, said hook rod may be set `for props1 action 'on flooring strips of dirlerent Ai'viidths.

It has pif'ebably already been made clear',

but it. may beiliererepeated'thatdwvhen theV table kblock y'19 is vertically adjusted by means or the reverse s'creiv connection 27,*

(see Fig. 12), then not only will the knife-Q edged railsy18 be adjusted to set the feed throat lfor flooring strips of different thick-l ness, bnt the resisting arm 31 livill'be corre-1r spondingly set. It 'further adjustment of At-liearm 181, relative" to the rails,` is'required,

this may be done by vertical ad]ustinents',or lthe stop bar 15,03, which limits" the down--4 ward movement otthe pistonlll, (see Fie. 9). ln fact, the free upper end ot' the arm llshould have less normal projection above the bottom of a thin flooring `stripthan it should above the bottom of a thick flooring strip.- Also, the eed-res'istingtorce olere'dr` bythe arm 31 should be less vfor vthin loor.-

ing strips than for thick llooringstrips', and tiisvmay be taken care vot by decreasingthe tension or the spring 1113, which acts toclose thechokeralve 139, (see Fig. 11)'. I

`What l claim is: 4

to saidsaiv and from vthencev to said cutter,Y

an oscillatory powersdriven arm, and a; pair ol' rake-actingl reed bars pivtedfto said arm 1.` 11i-"a Amachine of the character described, j

for independent vertical movements, said j freed bars having primary and secondaryL driving shoulders, the formerservingto feed the strips yto and past the saiv and theV latter serving to feed the strips to and `past said cutter. Y r

2. In a niachineof the'character described,

the combination-With a cutter and awteed" tory power-driven member to which said feed bars are pivoted forA independent vertical niovements,'said reed throat includingan oif'erhea'd guide and underlying knife-y edgedrails, said rails being vertically ad'- justable but unyiel'dingly mounted.

l. 'In a machine of the character described,

the combination With a cutter and a .'eed

guide and A underlying V passageiif'ay for deliif'ering strips thereto, of"

means 'for feeding. strips through fsaidV reed passageway and past said cutter, Aand a pivoted yieldingly supported hook located at the delivery end or saidced passageway and operative to hold the strip until vit has beenfed entirely out of saidpassageivfay." p n 'j 5. 1n ay machine or the character described,

`said feed throat, and a yielding supporting hook located at the delivery end of said feed throat and operative to hold the strip until it has been fed entirely out of said `feed throat, said feed throat and said hook being verticallyy adjustable for strips of different thickness. j

(i.I In a machine of the character described, the combination with a cutter, of a feed pas n sagewaj7 for delivering strips thereto. means for feeding the strips through said feed passageway and past said cutter, and a feed resisting device at the receiving end of said feed passageway operative with diminished force as it approaches the point of release.

7. In a machine of the character described, the combination with a cutter, of a feed throat for delivering strips thereto, means for feeding the strips through said feed throat and past said cutter, and a. feed-resisting device at' the receivingend of said feed throat operative with maximum force to resist initial feed movement of the strip but to release such resisting pressure While the strip is still in contact therewith.

`S. `In a machine of the character described, the combination with a cutter, of a feed throat `for delivering strips thereto, means for feeding the strips through said feed throat and past said cutter, a feed-resisting device at the receiving end of said feed throat operative with maximum force to resist initial feed movement of the strip but to release such resisting pressure while the strip is still in contact therewith, said feedresisting device comprising a cylinder and piston, and a pump with connections for producing hydraulic pressure in said cylinder.

t). ln a machine of the character described,` the combination with a cutter, of a feed throat for delivering strips thereto, means for feeding the strips through said feed throat and past. said cutter, a feed-resisting device atthe receiving end of said feed throat operative with maximum force to resist initial :feed movement of the strip but to release such resisting presrairc while the strip is still in contact therewith, said feedresisting mcans comprising a pivoted arm, the end of which is engagcable with the strip, a cylinder, a piston in said cylinder connecten to said arm, and a hydraulic pump having delivery and return connections to said cylinder.

10.111 a machine of the character defeed-resisting means comprising a pivoted j arm, the end of which is engageable with the strip, a cylinder, a piston in said cylinder i connected to said arm, and a hydraulic pump having delivery and return connections to said cylinder, said cvliuder and jiivoted arm being verticalljT adjustable for action on strips of different thickness, and sai-d feed throat being correspondingly adjustable.

ll. In a machine of the character described, the combination with a cutter, of a feed throat for delivering strips thereto, means for feeding the strips through said feed throat and past said cutter, .a feed-resisting device at the receiving end of said :feed throat operative with maximum force to resist initial feed movement of the strip but to release such resisting pressure While the strip is still in contact therewith, said feed-resisting means `comprising a pivoted arm, the end of which is engageable with the strip, a cylinder, a piston in said cylinder connected to said` arm, and a hydraulic pump having dcliverjT and return connections to said cylinder, said cylinder and pivotcd arm being vertically adjustable for action on strips of different thickness, and said feed throat being correspondingly adjustable, but adjustable independently of said cylinder and arm.

l2. In a machine of the character described, the combination with a cutter, of a feed throat for delivering strips tllereto, means for feeding the strips through said feed throat and past said cutter, a feed-resisting device at the receiving end of said feed throat operative with maximum force to resist initial feed movement of the strip but to release such rcsistiiig pressure while the strip is still in contact therewith, said feed-resisting means comprising a pivoted arm, the end of which is cngagcahle `with the strip, a` cylinder, a pistou in said cylinder connected to said arm, and a hydraulic pump having delivery and return connections to said cylinder, said pump having a yieldingly closed relief port.

13. In a machine of the character described, the combination with a cutter, of a feed throat for delivering strips thereto. means for feeding the `strips through said feed throat and past said cutter, a feedresisting device at the receiving end of said feed throat operative with maximum force to resist initial feed movement of the strip but to release such resisting pressure while Btl llU

lill) the; strip is stillin Contact therewith, said feedaesisting means v comprising a., .pivoted Y saidcylinder7 said pump khavingI arelief port and .a co-operating relief valvenormally closingv said relief port, and an adjustable device normally c l-osingsaidfrelief valve.v

14. In .a machine.- of' the characterV de'- scribed, the combination witha cutter. and means for feeding'st-rips thereto, of ayfeedresisting device comprisingadepressible resisting element, a cy-linder,a piston workingin said cylinder and connecteditosaid depressible element, and x means for producing 1 hydraulic pressure in said cylinderfand for relieving the'pressure afterit;` hasy eX- erted a' maximum` resistance during the initialffeeding-aetion. -A

1,5. In a machineV of the character, describe-d; the combinationl with ai cutter y yand means A for feeding y strips; thereto, of a-,fee.d resisting device comprising-a depressib'le -resisting element, .a cylinder, a piston working in said cylinderr andconnected to-said.v depressible element, saidI cylinderv having nlet and outlet portsthelatter1of'which,is normally closedE by sai-d; piston, but-is 4arranged f to f be opened -by' movements of, said piston, iand a- :hydraulic-rotary: pump, having connectionsrtothe inlet andoutlet ports of said cylinder and fhaving; a ryieldinglyv closed by-passage for relievingthel pressure produeedby thev pump; and determ-ming the pressure exerted in said cylinder.

"161 Ina@ machine. of" the character described, the combination with a cutter and means for feeding strips thereto, of a feedresisting device comprising a depressible resisting element, a cylinder, a piston working in said cylinder and connected to said depressible element, said cylinder having inlet and outlet ports, the latter of which is normally closed by said piston but is arranged to be opened by movements ofsaid piston, and a hydraulic rotary pump having connections to the inlet and outlet ports of said Aee cylinder and having a yieldingly closed'bypassage for relieving the pressure produced by the pump and determine the pressure eX- erted in said cylinder, said cylinder further having a yielding valve that normally permits kan obstructed flow between said cylinder and its inlet port, but is movable under sudden pressure to produce an unobstructed or freer flow.

17. In a machine of the character describeda the combination with a cut-off saw, and a cutter, of a feed throat for delivering strips to said saw and from thence to Said cutter, a lurality of rake=acting feed bars,

and ifi-ratory pewerdrven member te f thev bar and Athe work after it has which saidifeed'bars are pivoted-ffor inde'-v` pendent vertical movements.

18. In a machine ofthe character described, the combinationwith a cut-ter! and a, feed throat for delivering strips thereto, off a pairv of rake-'acting feedv barsmounted forindependent vertical v.movements and having driving,shouldersand cam surfaces, the former for positively feeding the strips vand they latter for yactionon the stripslto raise,

position said shoulders .for feedingy action on the strip.

19. In a machine, of. thecharacter;v de-.

scribed, Ithe combination with acutterandia feed passageway fordelivering stripsthereto, or rake-acting feed-bars mounted xfor independent vertical movement, meansfon simultaneously` impart-ing., operative feed movements to said bars, lsaid feed bars each having: rigid the-reonfprimary and-secondary ,driving shoulders, a cam` surfaceibetween saidshoulders, and a camsinfaceatits free end beyond said primary shouldensaidicam surface being operative on the stripsito carry saidgshoulders over the strips and into` positionfor feedingv actions thereon,

Q0. In a machine of the character. described, the V combination with y a. cutter and a feed throat fory delivering strips thereto,

of afpairy efraim-acting feed barsprovided.

with driving shoulders, andal vibratory drivin-gfelement! towhzich saidfeed bars .are

connected, said feed bars beingindependently adjustable longitudinally. to properly align or. position their1 driving shouldersqfor f action on the stri-ps.

2l. In; a machiney ofi theV character de scri-bed, thexcombination-With'va cutter and a feed throat'for delivering strips thereto, of a pair of rakeacting feed bars provided with driving shoulders, and a vibratory driving element to which said feed bars are connected, said feed bars being independent ly adjustable longitudinally to properly align or position their driving shoulders for action on the strips, said feed bars being capable of independent vertical movements.

22. In a machine of the character described, the combination witha cutter and a feed passageway for delivering strips thereto, of means for feeding the strips through said passageway, and a feed resistance device arranged to travel with the work and operating with a diminished force as it approaches the point of release.k

23. The structure defined in claim 22, in further combination with means for removing said resistance device from the path of performed its resisting function.-

y 24. The structure defined in claim 22 in which said resistance device involves a pijvoted arm, the free rd of which moves on the Y pnth ot the uorlzinlter it has pt-uforined its resistnuf tnnetum.

25. The structure defined in elunn 2&2 1u

tfiirthtr eonihiiuition with ineens for turning;1

"further eomhinntitm with adjust-[dile ineens 'for rar ing the forward uornml position ot' said resistance derive.

29. The structure defined in elimini Q2 in further Combination with. ineens tor varying the resisting notion of said resistance device.

30. In n ninehine ot the kind descriht-id variable resistance devise, operative to resist the advance movement et? the work with a decreasing force.

3l. `In u lnnehino through whit-h strips :iro fed laterally, resisting ineens for resisting; advance movement olf the strips, und strip- :leeding means ope 'ntive on the strips nt points on each side oit said resisting means.

32. In a machine through which strips :ire fed laterally, laterally spared pnirs of upper und lower strip-guiding inelnhers, und stripfeeding ineens end feedn'esistinnj ineens operative on these strips :it points between seid pairs of guidingl lnen'lloers.

33. l'n n machine through which strips are fed laterally. laterally spaced pairs ot upper and lower strip-guiding members, stripd'eeth ing means and feed-resisting ineens operamet;

3.3. ln` n Innehine ol. the trhururtei dest'rihefh the combination with upper und lower strip-guiding members, olinienns tor (prickly moving one of sind strip-guiding 5 members toward und from the other to reV lense a strip or restore thenielnhei" for stripgniding notion, and Without distnrhingpthe` predetermined worltiinfy ndjustrnei'it of the` parts. 30

`36. A Innehine ol" the ehnruetier deserihed eornprisingr :1 cutter, nf leed thi-ont und eoopernting nlenns for delivering strips to seid cutter, said feed throat including :in oven head guide and underlying"kniteedged 65 guide rails, one class of said guide menthe 5 being adjustable toward and from the other. and ineens for quickly moving one clues ot stiipgniding members totvnrd und .troni` the other to releasen strip or to restore the "ineni- 70 herslor strip-grinding notion und Without disturbing the predetermined Working;v :1djustln-ents of the parts. ,i

In testimony whereof I nllix lnylsignature.

WILLIS s. SHERMAN. 

